The following is copied and shared with permission and reflects a deeply personal  perspective forged amid the daily suffering and sacrifice caused by the war in Ukraine.  This update is offered to inform and encourage your prayerful support for all who are affected by this tragedy.

If you would like to help us with humanitarian aid efforts you can donate through our  website https://ipministry.org/donate/. The needs are growing as we keep helping thousands of people to move west within Ukraine and also helping those who want to leave the country temporarily. We need funds most of all for gas, but also for food and various supplies (medical, bed linens, mattresses, etc). Thank you.                        

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Update from Maia:

The night is coming.
The war goes on and life goes on. Today was my father’s 75th birthday. He was born in a remote village in the Urals. When I was 13 and my younger brother was 5 we went with our dad to visit his village and I remember that seeing life in russian taiga village felt like traveling two centuries back: there were no asphalt roads in or to the village, there was no running water – only wells, no gas or electricity for cooking, but rather the house dominated by a structure that serves as oven for cooking and as a bed (on top of it the whole family would sleep together). There I experienced bed bugs – never before had I understood “don’t let the bedbugs bight”. Men in the village never seemed to get sober. Needless to say, I was not impressed with my visit to my father’s Motherland. Earlier today I reposted someone’s photo album showing the realities of poverty of russian villages and towns. Those photos reminded me of my trip to Perm region of russia. This country is a giant on clay feet!

My father married a Ukrainian and spent most of his life in Ukraine and if you ask him today he will tell you that he is Ukrainian. He sometimes comes into our home with the greeting, Glory to Ukraine! This russian attack makes anybody with russian roots try to forget that they ever had anything to do with that land of evil.

My dad’s 75th birthday was modified by war. We decided to celebrate at lunchtime so that we wouldn’t have to worry about curfew in the evening and wouldn’t have it eat in semi-darkness during blackout time when we need to keep our windows dark. It’s always hard to buy a gift for my dad, but now especially – it’s mainly food that is available in stores these days. But at least we had our meal in our dining area in spite of its big windows – lately, we don’t eat there because glass from windows becomes a cause of injury during explosions. But around our celebration time, there was no air raid and we decided to really celebrate!

Even though it’s my dad’s birthday most of the photos I took were of course, of our beautiful Briana! She is the best gift my father could get for his 75th birthday – she made him a great grandfather! She is a gift to all of us during this time of darkness – she truly brings sunshine and so much joy and hope!
I love how Nick and my dad say goodbyes to each other these days: Bye, grandpa! Bye, great grandpa!

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. (Proverbs 17:6)

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3-5)

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Please share these updates with others. I have added direct links to our email, our website, and to the IP Ministry Journal on YouTube to the bottom of this page. Your prayers are precious to us. Thank you!

In Christ,
Brandy Ezzell
International Partnerships